Southern California -- this just in

Gilroy man charged with killing Chihuahua faces life in prison

May 19, 2011 | 9:16
pm

A Gilroy man who killed his wife's Chihuahua by smashing it against a wall could be sentenced to life in prison because of prior violent convictions.

Bud Wally Ruiz, 53, has a criminal history dating back 30 years and could receive a life sentence under California's "three strikes" law, according to a report in the San Jose Mercury News. He has four separate convictions for assault with a deadly weapon.

Ruiz is charged with killing the dog last week. He had given the animal to his wife as a gift for Mother's Day.

The Santa Clara County district attorney's office has charged Ruiz with two felony counts of cruelty to animals and one misdemeanor count of battery on a spouse, according to the news report.